LeBron James speculation game bigger than NBA Finals

Published 5:57 pm, Friday, June 13, 2014

With the Spurs up 3-1 in the NBA Finals, you would think people might want to talk about Game 5 instead of what LeBron James and the Heat will be doing next season.

With the Spurs up 3-1 in the NBA Finals, you would think people might want to talk about Game 5 instead of what LeBron James and the Heat will be doing next season.

Photo: Robert Duyos, McClatchy-Tribune News Service

Image 2 of 2

Miami Heat forward LeBron James, left, and Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade, listen to a questions during a post-game news conference after Game 4 of the NBA basketball finals, Friday, June 13, 2014, in Miami. The San Antonio Spurs defeated the Miami Heat 107-86. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee) less

Miami Heat forward LeBron James, left, and Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade, listen to a questions during a post-game news conference after Game 4 of the NBA basketball finals, Friday, June 13, 2014, in Miami. The ... more

Photo: Wilfredo Lee, Associated Press

LeBron James speculation game bigger than NBA Finals

1 / 2

Back to Gallery

The rumor mill has no conscience. The future casts such a large shadow over LeBron James, he can't concentrate on today. You'd think the NBA Finals would be the ultimate forum for strategic discourse, but people just can't help themselves. So forget about Sunday's Game 5 and a career-defining challenge for James. The big issue is what he thinks about next season.

Because he carries himself with dignity, saving unbridled emotion for private settings, James hasn't rebelled. He takes everything in stride. Think about it, though: His team is in tatters, outclassed by a San Antonio clinic in the fundamentals, and he's supposed to answer questions about hooking up with Carmelo Anthony? Or joining the Clippers? Or whatever comes up next in the fabulous world of tomorrow?

In case you missed it, salary-cap experts have determined that Anthony could join Miami as a free agent if James, DwyaneWade and Chris Boshall opt out of their current contracts and the four of them agree to reduce their salaries by (roughly) a third. To maximize their options, the Heat also would need Udonis Haslem and Chris "Birdman" Andersen to make significant salary concessions.

Presto: instant headlines around the country. But really, how crazy does this sound? Wade has told reporters he is done making financial sacrifices. Adding Anthony sounds nice, but the Heat have glaring deficiencies at center and the backcourt. Plus, the team seems to be disintegrating in front of our eyes, raising questions about the Big Three's ability to bring home another title.

The real shame is that this series is likely to end too soon, a potential seven-game classic turned to dust by the Spurs' elegant team dynamic. Then the rumors really will begin in earnest, flooding the Internet with misleading information and the occasional nugget of truth.

Reality check

Finally, another National League contender stood up for itself. Washington's near-domination of the Giants was very real, and it might have been a sweep if injured Bryce Harperand Gio Gonzalezhad been available ... Giants fans, rejoice: There are now five outfielders with starting-lineup credentials in the Dodgers' clubhouse (Scott Van Slyke has become a factor), creating even more room for discord ... Developing crisis: The Dodgers wouldn't mind signing Hanley Ramirezto a long-term deal to keep him off the free-agent market, but he fancies himself an elite shortstop (which he isn't, defensively), and management sees him as a third baseman. He also has a shoulder injury that could linger throughout the season ... When the little things matter: The Dodgers got tremendous leadership last year from Skip Schumaker, Nick Punto, Jerry Hairston Jr., Mark Ellisand Michael Young- all of them now missing (Hairston and Young retired). "You need guys who have been through it all, and won," said Schumaker, now with the Reds, in an interview with the Cincinnati Enquirer. "You can't always out-talent somebody. I know that firsthand." Parting shot: "That (L.A.) lineup is very good. When certain guys want to play, it's even better." ... When Jesus Alouplayed for the Giants, people were very careful to pronounce his first name correctly. Why can't they do the same for Angel Pagan? Refreshing exception: Gary Radnich, who properly calls him Ahn-hel ... They didn't want to hear this in Washington, but Michael Morsespoke the truth this week about his former team shutting down Stephen Strasburgin 2012: "Who knows what could have happened if Stras had pitched? It just shows that you can be on top one year, and the next year be out of the playoffs. You've got to play to win that day, that year."

Great stuff from Matt Cainon the proliferation of advanced metrics: "I think it's just a bunch of stuff on paper. It takes away the feeling of what you see and what really happens. You can't let a computer crunch a bunch of numbers to determine a player's worth to a team." Added the White Sox's Paul Konerko: "The amount of numbers out there is nauseating, ridiculous. Nowadays, you have a laptop and a blog, and you're an expert." ... Encouraging words for Warriors fans hoping the team won't trade Klay Thompson: Team executive Jerry West, whose input makes a difference, told Comcast, "We need more shooting." Losing Thompson would be a massive setback in that department ... Why do we keep hearing about Europe's World Cup drought on South American soil? That continent hasn't hosted the event since 1978 (Argentina) ... Cool scene in Berlin: As fans gathered at an outdoor stadium to watch World Cup action, organizers provided couches, by the hundreds, for ultimate comfort ... We jumped the gun last week, congratulating NBA Commissioner Adam Silverfor clearing the decks on Donald Sterling. Seems we forgot our motto: Never trust that man. Rising from the slime, Sterling is reviving his $1 billion lawsuit and lining up private-investigation firms to "dig up dirt" on his fellow owners, according to ESPN.com. Such a miserable life he leads.

Latest from the SFGATE homepage:

Click below for the top news from around the Bay Area and beyond. Sign up for our newsletters to be the first to learn about breaking news and more. Go to 'Sign In' and 'Manage Profile' at the top of the page.